Popular French Baby Names: Yesterday and Today

   5
Popular French Baby Names: Yesterday and Today

When you think of classic French monikers, names like Brigitte and Jacques come to mind. But are they still popular? What are today’s parents naming their children? Let’s take a look.

Most Popular Names

In 2019, these were the most popular baby names in France.

Ranking Girls Boys
1 Emma Gabriel
2 Jade Léo
3 Louise Raphaël
4 Alice Arthur
5 Lina Louis
6 Chloë Lucas
7 Rose Adam
8 Léa Jules
9 Mila Hugo
10 Ambre Maël
11 Mia Liam
12 Anna Noah
13 Julia Paul
14 Inès Ethan
15 Léna Tiago
16 Juliette Sacha
17 Zoé Gabin
18 Manon Nathan
19 Agathe Mohamed
20 Lou Aaron

 

Photo credit © Thiago Cerqueira, Unsplash

Some are what you’d expect, like Chloë and Jules—it doesn’t get more French than that! Others, like Noah and Adam, reflect the country’s long Catholic heritage. Mohamed makes the list in a nod to French citizens with North African ancestors. (Note also that France has the largest Muslim population in Europe.) And, perhaps surprisingly, Louise is popular for both boys and girls—an example of that famous French égalité.

But wait, how did Emma become the number one girl’s name—is France full of secret Jane Austen fans? And what about Alice, Jade, and Tom? Those aren’t names you’d see in a novel by Flaubert!

So, what’s changed? The law.

It’s the Law!

For many years, the only names allowed were those of Catholic saints and “important people of the ancient world.” This changed in the 1960s, when the rules began to loosen. Foreign names started to sneak in, with Sabrina and Anthony each making the top 10 in the early 1980s. Finally, in 1993, a new law allowed virtually unlimited names. But not everything: Nutella and Mini Cooper and others have been disallowed by French courts because they were “not in the best interests of the child.”

The move away from traditional names has happened many countries. For example, Marie and Jean were the most popular girl’s and boy’s names in France for much of the 20th century, before finally being toppled from their lofty perches. Similarly, the top names in the U.K. were Mary and John, while in the U.S. they were Mary and James. These, too, eventually ceded their place.

Photo credit © PublicDomainPictures, Pixabay

A Melting Pot?

How do these three countries compare today—are they converging on a common set of “international” names? Yes and no.

Mia is popular in all three countries—not surprising, as it is a derivative of the longtime champion Mary / Marie. The names Emma, Camila (Camille), Mila, Liam, Lucas and Ethan are chart-toppers in both France and the U.S. Meanwhile Arthur, Mohamed, Tom, and Rose have crossed the English Channel and are popular in both France and the U.K.

But never fear, these countries are not losing their national identities. We still find the popular Alfie in the U.K. and Jack in the U.S., while Manon and Maël are there to remind us that France remains a unique country indeed.

Photo credit © Vitor Pinto, Unsplash

Share to:  Facebook  Twitter   LinkedIn   Email

More in children, family, Family and kids

Previous Article 12 Must-See Towns and Villages in Auvergne
Next Article The Art of Survival: The Transformation of Montmartre

Related Articles


Keith Van Sickle is a lifelong traveler who splits his time between California and Provence. He is the author of the best-sellers "One Sip at a Time" and "An Insider’s Guide to Provence.” Keith’s observations on life in France can be found on his website keithvansickle.com.

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comments

  • Laurel
    2021-05-18 17:51:07
    Laurel
    Why all the surprise about Emma? It is, literally, the name of the main character in Flaubert's best-known novel: Madame Bovary.

    REPLY

  • jean
    2021-03-26 01:37:58
    jean
    where was jean

    REPLY

  • Mrs Maxine Kerr
    2020-12-29 20:15:31
    Mrs Maxine Kerr
    Thank you Keith for your article on Baby Names...Enjoyed the article. Im surprised that Zoe was so low on list along with Aaron. Glad to see Gabriel and Raphael still on top of list...very powerful names....Great article!!!

    REPLY

  • Mary C
    2020-12-11 03:20:21
    Mary C
    Wow, I never would have guessed Emma would be the number one girl’s name!

    REPLY

  • Kathryn Occhipinti
    2020-12-07 22:01:01
    Kathryn Occhipinti
    I had no idea French names were regulated by the government! Thanks for this interesting article Keith!

    REPLY